05/20/08 Natural beef

When it comes to running cattle "never ever" is something most ranchers refrain from saying, except that is when you raise natural beef, then the term "never ever' becomes pretty important. I'm Jeff Keane and I will be back after the break with more on the Natural beef. If you intend to raise natural beef, two words. "never ever" can translate into lucrative incentive dollars but it will require some homework to find them. Here is Susan Allen . Given the high price of feed the producer who elects to raise cattle under the USDA Natural Beef guidelines needs to be taking advantage of added incentives for say transportation costs or premiums for specific "never ever" categories. "Never-ever" is a term that is used to meet a variety consumer driven requirements from no growth implants, no antibiotics no ionophores even no animal by-products in feed. Be aware though that there is a difference between natural beef which is minimally processed and "naturally raised" beef with quality-based programs that reward premiums for cattle with superior marbling and high red meat yield. Jeff, like any other small business, raising natural beef requires savvy marketing to the feed lot, stockyards, natural-beef company buyer and at times the consumer. The South Dakota State University Extension Service web site is a great resource if you want to learn more about the specifics of raising cattle naturally. I'm Jeff Keane.